Review of Bottle Shock (2008) by Anthony S — 10 Feb 2009

The story of the early days of California wine making featuring.

The now infamous Paris wine-tasting of 1976 that has come to be.

Known as 'Judgment of Paris'. There's even a bottle of the wine.

That won the competition, 'Chateau Montelena', in the Smithsonian.

It's hard to believe that over 30 years ago wines from countries.

Other than France and Italy were considered crap. Uncivilized.

Swill. This wasn't the case. Napa Valley, as well as regions in.

Australia, were creating wonderful vintages. But since the French.

Controlled everything about the culture of the grape, their disdain.

Meant no one took outsider vineyards seriously.

In 1976, all that changed. During the year of America's.

Bicentennial, a British merchant working in Paris came to California.

Looking for participants for his exclusive tasting competition.

He hoped to raise awareness of his failing shop and solidify his.

Place in the snobbish wine society. Instead, winemonger Stephen.

Spurrier made history, and his accidental discoveries sent.

International palettes into something akin to bottle shock. Now,.

Decades since the U.S. became part of cultured world cuisine,.

Director Randall Miller (The Houseguest) offers up a serio-comic.

Take on the event, and it's as tasty as a well-aged Burgundy.

Like most family-run businesses Chateau Montelena is run by.

The patriarch, who rules like it's his own private fiefdom.

Anyone ever involved in such an enterprise can attest that most.

Father/son dynamics can be volatile. Whether it be wine making,.

The garment trade or construction. You have both sides of the.

Dilemma in the Barrett family: a dad too serious to see beyond.

His failures and a son too surfer dude-esque to take anything.

(except sex) seriously. When we first meet the Jim (Bill Pullman.

'You Kill Me') and son Bo (Chris Pine 'Just My Luck') they are.

On the verge of bankruptcy. While their vineyard creates fantastic.

Wines, no one outside of the locals knows about them. Hoping.

To learn something about life in a vineyard, college intern Sam.

(Rachel Taylor 'Transformers') arrives, and quickly befriends.

Bo and his buddy (and secret winemaking savant) Gustavo Brambila.

(Freddy Rodriguez 'Grindhouse'). Add to the mix a lovely bar-owner.

Named Joe (Eliza Dushku 'Noble Son'), who plays a pivotal role.

In securing the wine, and you have quite a fermentation of.

Characters.

Meanwhile, Spurrier (Alan Rickman 'Harry Potter') is desperate.

To keep his snooty store afloat. On the advice of expatriate.

Maurice (Dennis Farina 'What Happens in Vegasâ?¦'), he creates.

A competition to find the best wines in the world. But once he.

Arrives in the U.S., the connoisseur is surprised at the quality.

Of work, especially coming out of the struggling Barrett business.

Since we know the outcome in advance, 'Bottle Shock' has to get.

By on character and charm. It does so in spades. If you liked.

'Sideways', you'll love this film. There is more wine lingo,.

Larger scope, beautiful landscapes, expansive vineyards that.

Go on forever. The cinematography alone is worth the price of.

Rental. It's beautiful, picturesque and Sonoma is like Heaven.

On earth. The fact that it's based on true events gives it a sense.

Of seeing history unfold.

It balances the last fleeting days of 1960s hippie hedonism.

With the intricacies of successful vinification. Director Miller.

Relies on the breeziest kind of nostalgia, a wistfulness where.

All problems are punished by a healthy dose of positive mental.

Attitude and an era- appropriate song or two. The two main.

Characters Jim and Bo, together form the yin and yang of a.

Narrative that avoids any major pitfalls on its way to American.

Enological supremacy. 'Bottle Shock' is satisfying entertainment.

And it's not to be savored so much as sipped and sampled like.

A fine Merlot.

* Reviewed February 10, 2009.